The Uttarakhand which had seen many Chief Ministers come and go was brought under the President’s rule on March 27, 2016, on the grounds of noticing a severe “breakdown of governance”. The decision of having a President Rule in the state comes when the state government is going through a severe political crisis caused by a rebellion in the ruling party.
On 18th march 2016, 35 members of Uttarakhand assembly voted against the appropriation Bill and 32 in the favor. While 9 members of the ruling party Congress, voted against the appropriation bill in the assembly after which the ruling party failed to clear the bill. Amidst the political incompetence in Uttarakhand, it is unconstitutional for Harish Rawat’s government to rule the state.
In the Republic of India, the phrase “President’s rule” refers to the imposition of Article 356 of the Constitution of India on a state whose constitutional machinery has failed. In the event that the State Government is not able to function as per the Constitution, the state comes under the direct control of the Central Government; in other words, it is “Under President’s Rule”. Subsequently, executive authority is exercised through the centrally appointed Governor, who has the authority to appoint retired civil servants or other administrators, to assist him.
India is a democratic country where we choose our desired candidate through vote to run the government. A stable government is not only the demand of the system but also the need of common man because the unstable government can directly affect the everyday work of the people. Recently Uttarakhandis witnessed political crisis when Harish Rawat’s Government failed to prove its majority in Legislative Assembly when 9 of his MLA’s left his party before imposing President Rule in Uttarakhand.
Abusing the voting power: The people of Uttarakhand voted for their desired government where they sent their local representatives in the Assembly to run the system but imposing President Rule will be against their democratic values.
Development: Uttarakhand is a new state with a tough geographical region where the rate of development is very slow and because it shares international borders with China and Nepal so the development is must in both local and border areas of Uttarakhand. A stable government works in a planned manner where they increase the rate of development and prepare themselves for next elections because in a democracy if you are not working then nobody is going to vote you next time. In Uttarakhand, 4th Assembly Election was scheduled for 2017 but imposing President’s Rule in Uttarakhand will affect the rate of development.
Decisions on Important Bills/Major Policies: 2017 was the year of 4th Assembly Elections in Uttarakhand. Undoubtedly, many decisions on the important bills and major policies were to be presented this year by Harish Rawat’s government, but as they are not in power all the important decisions in the favor of Uttarakhand government will remain pending till the political crises will not be resolved.
State Budget/financial crises: On March 11, Harish Rawat’s government presented a pre-poll deficit budget in the Assembly of Rs 40,422.20 crore for 2016-17 laying emphasis on education, disaster management, rural development but now centre and make the changes in the budget. State government presents budget according to their work experience and state’s needs. It will directly affect the budget and the common man will face financial crises like:
Control over Executive/Powers and Functions: In President’s Rule administration will come directly to the highest man of India. Uttarakhand has always been in news because of its corrupted government and its officials. It will affect the daily government work of common man because, without a stable government or Chief Minister, the government executives will pull their hands from their duties.
Law and Order: Law and order is not a big issue in Uttarakhand because most of the population live in the mountains and the crime graph of Uttarakhand is very low, but during the President Rule the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved or suspended and the parliament takes over the role and make laws for the state. On the other hand, local representatives know everything about the state they know which law to enforce and which not. By transferring this power to the centre, will not only increase the risk of balancing law and order in the state but it will also affect the instant decisions. Taking more time in decision making will also delay the enforcement of the law.
Scenario 1: President’s Rule is revoked:
Scenario 2: Parliament Ratifies President’s Rule
Scenario 3: Parliament or Court Strike down President’s Rule
According to the three scenarios, Doors are still open for Harish Rawat to prove their majority in Assembly. But, after the completion of 15 years of this new state, a stable government is still a dream to the common man of Uttarakhand.
As per latest orders released by Nainital High Court, the President Rule has been removed from Uttarakhand. Harish Rawat’s government will rule the state and he will need to prove his majority on April 29. It has also been stated that on April 23, the High Court will give its verdict on the 9 rebel legislatives of Congress.
Inputs from: Quora and Hindustan Times